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An experimental study of the surface elevation probability distribution and statistics of wind-generated waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2006

Norden E. Huang  and
Steven R. Long
Norden E. Huang
Affiliation:
NASA Wallops Flight Center, Wallops Island, VA 23337
Steven R. Long
Affiliation:
NASA Wallops Flight Center, Wallops Island, VA 23337
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Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to measure the surface elevation probability density function and associated statistical properties for a wind-generated wave field. The laboratory data together with some limited field data were compared. It is found that the skewness of the surface elevation distribution is proportional to the significant slope of the wave field, §, and all the laboratory and field data are best fitted by\[K_3 = 8\pi\S,\]with § defined as ($(\overline{\zeta^2})^{\frac{1}{2}}/\lambda_0 $, where ζ is the surface elevation, and λ0 is the wavelength of the energy-containing waves. The value of K3 under strong wind could reach unity. Even under these highly non-Gaussian conditions, the distribution can be approximated by a four-term Gram-Charlier expansion. The approximation does not converge uniformly, however. More terms will make the approximation worse.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 101 , Issue 1 , 13 November 1980 , pp. 179 - 200
Copyright
© 1980 Cambridge University Press

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